Where would you get a piece of rubber like that?
And you've got me interested: what other advantages are there?
Any box store homedepot lowes, a contractor/rubber roofer. I'd first check with my old contacts from when I was a sub when I did finish carpentry work. If that failed, don't laugh but when it came for the need to build or utilize materials on a job I've found just about everything I needed in a dumpster on a job site...frame/blocking etc. Just go about it the proper way and ask permission and word of the wise access property while they are there not when the site is empty jmo. I had it to a point where they would save all their luan stock, 1x stock that I used to make weasel boxes and used for my squirrel/critter work when cages were placed up on roofs or the structure where damage could occur. 1/4 1/2 3/4 in pieces of plywood, tyvek house wrap lots of rubber along with many other various materials that they put aside for me.
Easy to do, stopped on a job site and introduced myself to the foreman. Told him what I was looking for and he had the crew just make a pile outside of the dumpster. End of the week I went down loaded up the truck and what I didn't need I tossed into the dumpster. Worked out great.
For advantages it's easy to wash off and reuse. For every "cover" animal can't see your approach which comes in handy when dealing with skunks. There have been times where a couple of big coons reached through and made contact with my glove when I didn't use a cover. Reached right around the guard plate .. You could make a larger plate that covers the handle area or utilize the whole cover. Creates a nice pocket for odor/shelter/interest to animals. There's a bunch, I like it because it's easy to work with and I have access to it when needed. Rubber or 1/4 inch luan is the way to go, durable and lasts a long time. "AT the end of the day" it all boils down to how serious you want to get with the builds. If you are skilled with power tools and have some knowledge in builds then its a breeze putting things together, if not then maybe something else. Some folks just enjoy making /modifying things even when it's not necessary, sometimes I'm guilty of that. We all have our own ways to do things, but it's all preference. ALL!